Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Halloween Week 2017


We were in for a busy week to say the least. Tuesday was Halloween which is a yearly magical night with our grandkids.

MONDAY

 We started the week
babysitting Mary who was
surrounded with spooky
Halloween things courtesy of
Gigi's Attic

 Of course, I was in the
Halloween spirit as well

Cowboy Jacob

He was beyond excited to go over to the Murphy's for their annual unveiling of Spooky Town.

It was spooky indeed!

TUESDAY was
HALLOWEEN!

A Star Wars Loving Family

Jacob and Mary
Trick or Treating with friends
Maverick and Luke

I had fun with Mary

Pouring over the Halloween loot

 Mary and I entering
Phase II of our sugar overdose

WEDNESDAY

I had accepted an invitation
to speak to the Ventura Rotary Club

The invitation came from our long-time friend and Rotarian Sherry Scott.

How could I say no?

The Topic?

It was a natural, about a 30 minute discussion on "Life in EuroBall" complete with a Power Point presentation.

I said the topic was a natural because it was Sherry's husband Rick who finally talked me into going to Europe to coach American football one night in 2004 on our way to coaching a playoff game at Agoura H.S.

After the talk to the Rotarians
I swung by Moorpark H.S.

I needed to do a little more research for my color commentating job on Friday night's Game-of-the-Week podcast.

THURSDAY

On to Calabasas H.S. for more
Game-of-the-Week research

 Lots of recent success for the Coyotes

In the evening, it was time for a Date Night with Laurie in Santa Barbara.

Dinner by the beach with . . .

 . . . My Honey . . .

 . . . Just before crossing the street
to Santa Barbara City College's
La Playa Stadium

Our good friend Ryan Bolland's Buena H.S. Bulldogs (3-6) were playing against the Santa Barbara H.S. Dons (5-4) in a key regular season ending contest that had playoff indications.

If Buena won tonight, it would make for a three way tie for second place in the Channel League with Ventura H.S. (5-5). All three schools would be 2-2 in league play and would have beaten each other in head on competition.

Thus if Buena won, by Channel League rules, the league's Principals would have to vote to decide which club got the Channel League's second and final guaranteed spot in the C.I.F. playoffs.

 How many Cheerleaders does
Santa Barbara H.S. have?

Buena only had seven.

With John Zant

At halftime we hooked up with one of my former St. Francis H.S. teammates from our 1963 C.I.F. AAA Championship team.

John was our explosive Wingback on that made "Wingback Counter Trap at 9" a nightmare for our opponents!

He lives in Santa Barbara with wife Kathleen and had a long and distinguished career as a sportswriter for the Santa Barbara News-Press.

Great guy!

 Post Game with Ryan Bolland

I coached Ryan at Buena H.S. back in 2002 and 2003.

We also coached together with Sweden's Hässleholm Hurricanes in 2010 and with the Rio Mesa H.S. Spartans in 2011 and 2012.

The Final Score was Buena 33 - Santa Barbara 19.

Friday morning the Channel League principals voted Buena is in as the league's number two team.

The Bulldogs (4-6) will open the 2017 C.I.F. Division XIII playoffs on the road against Tri-Valley League Champion Grace Brethren (8-2) this coming Friday.

By the way, Ventura made the playoffs but not Santa Barbara.

FRIDAY

 McDonald's after school and
before a sleepover

It has become a Friday Tradition.

This kid is a hoot but I had
to leave him to go to work

 The Camino League Championship
was at stake tonight

The Calabasas H.S. Coyotes (8-1) were the defending  Camino League Champions.

The Moorpark H.S. Musketeers (8-1) were a big, physical team that I felt was the best team that we had seen during our broadcasts this season.

 The 1945-46 Musketeer Varsity 11

I loved seeing this photo proudly displayed in their concessions area in the nearby gym.

 GAME TIME

I was disappointed by the visiting crowd that Calabasas mustered for such a big game.

Calabasas dominated the game winning 33-21.

It wasn't that close.

 Meanwhile, Mike took Jacob
to the Thousand Oaks Lancers
at Newbury Park Panthers game

While Jacob worked on his tackling skills, the Panthers cruised to an easy 42-17 victory in the Conejo Valley Classic.

After the game, Mike dropped Jacob off at our house to continue the sleepover.

SATURDAY

Jacob was still in a
Halloween Mood Saturday morning

Mike, Vanessa and Mary joined us for a day of college football  TV watching mania.

Only one game mattered really . . .

DAWGS WON!

SUNDAY

NFL Day

That was fun to watch!

YOUR Los Angeles Rams reached the NFL season's mid-point at 6-2 and alone in first place in the NFC West Division!

After the Rams victory,
we went to the movies

It was different, enjoyable and informative, worthy of TWO THUMBS UP!

Reading Is FUNdamental!

I bought it at
Shakespeare and Co.
in Paris on our recent trip

In my opinion, this Hemingway fellow has a chance to become a decent enough writer someday if he works at it and respects his calling.

Just saying . . .

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